Improvement in animal-traps



`GEORGE R. HARDING. Improvement in Animal Traps. No. 120,063, Patented Oct,l7,1871.

w////////////////////#mU/#MUMMUJ/WWW//` m UNITED STATES g GEORGE R. HARDING, OF MANCHESTER, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANlMAL-TRAPS.

Specification formin g part of Letters Patent No. 120,063, dated October 17, 1871.

To all whom tt may cancer:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. HARDING, of Manchester, in the the county of Ohesterfield and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side View, partly in section, showing the parts in a closed state. Fig. 2 is a similar View, showing the parts open or set. Fig. 3 is a View opposte to the side shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 4

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a self-adjusting trap; and consists in the combination of various parts Operating together, as Will be set forth.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a box consisting of two divisions, B O, of which the division B may be termed the bait and trappingchamber, and the division (l the confining chamber. At or near the bottom of the chamber G there is arranged a' platform, D, which is hinged or made to swing or tilt in any Well known manner. E represents doors, which occupy positions at the sides of the chamber 0, and adapted in the present case to slide vertically in suitable guides on the sides of the chamber. On the inner faces of the doors there are secured horizontal straps or ways F, in which play one end of I rods or levers G, whichare denominated the lifting-levers. Their other ends are connected to a rock-shaft, G', whose bearings are in the sides of the chamber.` To this rock-shaft is attached a dog, H, which is adapted to engage With notches on the bait-hook J, which is prep erly Suspended within the chamber and within convenient reach of the animals when within the chamber. K represents a tripper, which is secured to a rod or arm rising from the platform, arranged to press the bait-hook and thus release the dog H in order to cau'se the doors E to drop and thereby inclose the animal B. L is the trap door, arranged within the chamber (J, and to it is secured an arm, M, which extends into the chamber B, and by a chain, link, or similar connection, N, is attached to the rock-shaft G through the medium of an arm, O. On the side of the trap-door L is arran ged a guard, a, and at the free end of said door on the floor of the chanber O I place a sill, b, whe'eby, when the animal is within the chamber O, the trap-door cannot be raised and the animal return to. chamber D. A rod, c, is secured to the trap-door and extends outside of the box A for purposes to be explained.

The operation is as follows: The trap may be set by lifting the doors fiom without. This, by means of the levers G, causes the rocleshaft to turn and draws up the dog H, which catches on one of the notches of the bait-hook, Whereby the trap is set and the doors held open, or, by litting the rod c the trap-door L is raised, and by means of the arms M O the rock-shaft is turned, the operation of setting being then as previously described. The trap-door L then returns to its first position, and by either of the Operations stated the trap is set and ready for use. When the animal enters the chamber B and seizes the bait on the hook J he draws the latter away from the dog H, whereby the roclr-shaft is disengaged and the doors E are caused to fall. The same result is produced if the animal steps on the platform D, in which case the depression of the platform operates the tripper K, which presses against the bait-hook and forces it from the dog. The animal is now caught within the chamber B, but, seeing the light in chamber 0, he passes thereinto, and in this movement raises the trap-door. This resets the trap in a manner similar to that produced by the rod 0, as has been described, the operation, however, being automatic. The trap-door also assumes` its normal position, and the animal is now securely confined within the chamber 0, where he may be disposed of or removed therefrom through the exit-doors, as usual in such cases.

Having thus described my inventon, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The notched bat-hook J, [in combination with the dog H, rock-shaft Gr', arms Gr, ways F, G', dog H, hook J, arms Gr, and doors E, suband doors E, Operating together, substantially stantiztlly as and for the purpose described.

as described. The above this day signed by me, August 15,

2. The trpper K rsng from the platform D, 1871. Operating in oombinaton with said platform and G. R. HARDING. With the notohed hook J dog H, and doors E, substantially as described. Wtnesses:

3. The trap-door L with arm M and the con- G. C. CLARKE, nection N, in combinaton With the rock-shaft PERCY V. KNEASS. (143) 

